Fluid actuated coupler



E. F. SARVER 2,170,538

FLUID ACTUATED COUPLER Aug. 22,1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 may. 1.

Filed Oct. 10, 1936 INVENTOR fmmeff f. Serve/r Patented Aug. 22, 1939 i FFHQ FLUID ACTUATED COUPLER EmmettF. Sarver, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Albert L. Freeling, Kansas City, Mo.

Application Gctober 10, 1936, Serial No. 105,018 10 Claims. (Cl. 192-87) This invention relates to transmission mechanisms and particularly to a fluid actuated intercoupler between a driving and driven member, and has for its principal object to provide a device of this character that may be automatically operated through any one of a plurality of selective speeds.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide an intercoupler whereby the suctight chamber 3 housing the intercoupling mechanism and for containing the fluid pressure medium whereby the respective speed coupling units are rendered efiective as later described.

In the illustrated instance, the end Wall 5, side walls 3-4 and the top .and bottom walls I and 8 are formed as an integral part to which the end wall 6 is removably secured by fastening devices, such as cap screws ill, having their cessive speed coupling units are rendered efiec- Shanks projected b h Op s H n the end tive with release of a preceding unit; to provide wall and into threaded. sockets 52 formed in a means for maintaining intercoupling engagement flange 53 ir umfer 'n ially Wit in th incidental to rotation of the driven member as fle gasket being erted between the well as the driving member; to provide for mainflange and end wall to enhance fluid-tightness of tenance of constant pressure of the fluid medium the jo n 15 used in effecting driving engagement; and to Carried by t e e d Walls a d 5 t t e D1 provide a coupler that may be utilized as a clutch nt al p f h c in r arin boss s between the driving and driven m mb r and i5 provided with bushings IT and iii in which It is also an important object of th present are rotatably mounted driving and. driven shafts invention to provide a coupler mechanism that is 5 n iii? vrespectively. The Shafts 9 a d 5 p O- automatically effective upon operation of the i601? W t e C a b 9 and are Connected driving and driven members in either of their re- With fluid pressure pumps 2i and 22 respectivespective directions of rotation. y- Thev p p and 22 y e f d t al In accomplishing these and other objects of construction, each comprisin a housing 23 havthe invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have i g a l flanges 344 and 25 t their pp d 5 provided improved details of structure, the pref r attachment 170v t pp W 7 y u a e ferred form of which is illustrated in the accomfastening devices, such as cap screws 26. panying drawings, wherein: Formed in the housings are pump chambers Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a selective ill in which are rotatably mounted intermeshspeed transmission equipped with coupler units i s d v and driven gears 23 and 9, t e d iV- 3o constructed in accordance with the present inice gea 23 o e h pump b n key d to redu ed vention. ends 3?) of the driving and'driven shafts respec- Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2--2 of tively- The Chambers 27 c m t t e e o Fig. 1. the gears and provide intake and discharge cham- Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line hers 3i and 32 communicating with manifold 33 of Fig. 1. chambers, 33 and 34 through ports 35 and 35. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section on the The manifold chambers are in turn respectively line 4-5 of Fig. 1. connected'through ports 3l 38 and 39-463 with Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the driving and inlet and outlet pass eways 4! a 473 having driven coupling members of a speed coupling connection with suction and discharge lines 43 unit. and M, later described. The ports 39 and 40, Fig. 6 is a detail section through the compenwhich communicatev with the outlet passageway sating means for maintaining constant pressure 42, are provided with ball valves 45 and 46 seatof the fluid medium. ing on the passageway side of the ports to main- Fig. '7 is a detail section through the valve for tain pump pressure within the line 4. The ports 5 controlling flow of the fluid medium. iii? and 38 are closed by similar ball valves ll and Fig. 8 is a cross-section through the valve and 38 on the manifold sides to prevent back flow part of the rotor constituting one of the coupling through the suction line 43. a members. Rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 49 and Referring more in detail to the drawings: 50 carried by the end walls 5 and 6 at a, point 50 l designates my invention embodied in a selecbelow the bearings and it is a shaft assembly tive speed transmission such as employed for carrying the speed intercoupling units 5!, 52 and automotive use and includes a casing 2 compris- 53, now to be described. The shaft assembly ining side and end walls 3@ and 5-6 connected eludes an inner shaft 54 having one end directly by upper and lower walls I and 8 to form, a fluidmounted for rotation in the bearing 5!! and its 55 2 opposite end rotatably supported in a quill shaft 55 that is itself directly mounted for rotation in the bearing 49 and upon the shaft 54. Attention is directed to the fact that the quill shaft has slight movement on the shaft 54. The shaft 54 has an axial valve chamber 56 supporting a slide valve 51 that is operated by a stem 58 reciprocable within a reduced bore 53 located in the end of the shaft that is mounted in the bearing 59, the stem of the valve extending through an opening 89 in the closed end of the shaft and through an aligning opening SI of the bearing to carry an annularly grooved head (52 for connecting an actuating yoke 63 whereby the valve may be manually reciprocated within the valve chamber.

The stem 58 of the valve has annular grooved portions 64, 65 and 66 adapted for engagement by a spring pressed plunger 91 mounted within a radial bore formed in the shaft 54. The plunger is urged into engagement with the stem by a coil spring 68 having one end bearing against the latch and the other end against a plug 69 closing the outer end of the lateral bore. The opposite end of the valve is provided with a reduced tubular pilot portion slidably mounted within a bushing II closing the outer end of the valve chamber.

Fixed to the inner end of the quill shaft 55 is a rotor 12 consisting of abutting sections l3, 14, I5 and I6 secured together by bolts 11 extending through aligning openings in the sections 23, "I4 and I5 and into threaded openings in the section I3 as best shown in Fig. 1. The section I3 includes a disk portion 78 formed integrally with the quill shaft 55 and has a lateral, peripheral flange portion I9. The sections I4 and include ring-like diaphragms 80 and BI having axial openings 82 and 83 for accommodating the shaft 54 and a quill shaft 84 respectively. The sections 74 and 15 also have laterally extending peripheral flanges corresponding to the flange portion I9 of the end section 13. The section I6 includes an annular disk portion 85 having a hub 86 rotatably mounted upon a quill shaft 81. The sections are preferably provided with interfitting annular ribs 88 and grooves 89 to enhance the seal between the sections. The housing sections thus form pressure chambers 99, 9| and 92 in which are rotatably mounted coupling members 93, 94 and 95 respectively. The quill shafts 55 and 84 have rotatable bearing upon the shaft 54 and the quill shaft 81 has rotatable bearing upon the quill shaft 84.

The coupling members 93, 94 and 95, in the illustrated instance, consist of fiat disks projecting radially from the shaft 54 and quill shafts 9d and 81 respectively to cooperate with the diaphragm portions 89 and SI and the disk portion 35 of the section 16, which form complementary driven coupling members engageable by the disklike driving coupling members as later described. The shaft 54 and quill shafts 84 and 81 have slight relative movement in a longitudinal direction so that the contacting faces 99 and 91 of the respective coupling members may be moved into and out of driving relation responsive to application of pressure medium in the respective chambers. The diaphragm sections, as well as the end section I6 of the rotor have a plurality of apertures 98, 99 and I09 respectively connecting the chambers 99 and 9|, 9I and 92, and the chamber 92 with the interior of the casing for flow of pressure medium therethrough as later described.

Fixed to the drive shaft I9 are differentially sized gears IElI, I02 and I93, meshing with gears I34, I05 and I96 fixed to the quill shafts 81 and 84 and the shaft 54 respectively so that rotation of the drive shaft will effect driving rotation of the coupling members 93, 94 and 95 at differential speeds within their respective chambers 90, 9I and 92.

The quill shaft 55 constitutes the power takeoff shaft and connected thereto is a gear IU'I meshing with a gear I03 that is slidably keyed on the driven shaft 29 by a spline I99. Also fixed on the quill shaft 55 in spaced relation with the gear I9! is a gear IIil adapted to be meshed with the gear I08, through a reverse gear I I I, when the gear IE8 is slid from engagement with the gear I91 and across the neutral space between the gears I91 and III. It is thus obvious that when the rotor 12 is rotated with the gear I98 meshing with the gear I97, the driven shaft will be rotated in one direction and when the gear IDS is moved into engagement with the gear III, the

driven shaft will be rotated in reverse direction incidental to the intermediate gear.

The gear IN is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft I I2 having a threaded shank mounted in a threaded opening of a boss H3 forming a part of the casing 2, the shank being locked against rotation by a lock nut I I4 engageable in the bottom of a recess II5 formed on the outer side of the casing. The driven gear I08 is provided with a hub H9 having a groove Ill and engageable in the groove is a yoke H8 having a rod II9 reciprocably mounted in an opening I29 of the casing 2. The rod II9 has a cam portion. I2I adapted to open a pressure release valve I22 when the gear is being moved into reverse position. The pressure relief valve is located in a pipe I23 that connects the lines 44 which lead from the discharge side of the pumps 2I and 22, and includes a valve chamber having a seat normally closed by a valve head I24 and which when unseated bleeds the lines 44 through a port I25, thereby relieving pressure on the coupling that happens to be effective in driving the rotor member. The valve includes a stem having a portion I26 that is contacted by the cam I2I and a portion I21 that extends through the casing for manual unseating of the valve. The valve is normally retained in seated position by a spring I28 seating against a foot of the stem portion I26. The pipe I23 connects with a compensating chamber I29 formed within the casing and which contains a displacement member such as a piston I351. The piston I39 carries a rod I3I projecting through an opening I32 in the casing. The piston I39 is moved toward the inlet end of the chamber and against pressure medium contained therein by a spring I33 having one end bearing against the piston and its opposite end encircling a boss I34 on the casing as clearly shown in Fig. l. The cylinder has an outlet port I35 communicating through a channel I35 with a space I3'I formed at the valve end of the shaft assembly and through which pressure fluid is discharged into an axial bore I38 formed in the valve 51.

The bore has a lateral outlet I39 which communicates with an annular groove I49 in the valve, the groove I40 being selectively positioned relatively to radial ports I4 I, I42 and I43 provided in the shaft 54 and communicating with the respective chambers 90, 9i and 92. The port I43 communicates with an annular groove I44 formed in the periphery of the shaft 54 to connect radial 2,170,538 ports I in the quill shaft 84 which in turn communicate with the chamber 92.

Formed in the periphery of the valve are an.- nular grooves I46 and I41 spaced apart and from the annular groove I 40 in conformity with the spacing of the ports leading to the respective chambers. The annular grooves I46 and I41 are connected through ports I48 with an annular space I40 that is provided about the pilot end of the valve and which communicates through ports I50 with an annular passage I5I formed about the periphery of the shaft 54, the passageway I5I communicating with lateral ports I52 through which liquid flows into the casing for collection in the bottom portion thereof.

Also formed in the shaft at the inner end of the'valve chamber are ports I53 to connect with ports I54 and I55 in the quills 84 and 81, the ports being kept in open communication through annular passageways I56, I51 and I58 formed in the shaft 54 and quills 84 and 81 respectively. The final outlet, for the passageway in the quill 81 is through lateral ports I50 formed in the hub 86 previously mentioned. The inlet lines 43 of -the pumps are interconnected with a common suction line I60 leading to the bottom of the casing and through which the pressure medium is drawn by the pumps for discharge into the compensating chamber I29 and through the compensating chamber to the valve 51 for selective discharge to any one of the respective chambers.

In operating a speed transmission coupler constructed and assembled as described, the power shaft I9- is connected to a suitable prime mover and the driven shaft 20 to the load. Rotation of the driving shaft causes rotation of all the coupling members, 93, 94 and 95, through the meshing engagement of the gears IHI, I02 and I03 with the'gears I04, I05 and I06 respectively. Rotation 'of the driving shaft also operates the pump 2|. However, the rotor 12 is kept in idle position by opening the valve I22 through manipulation of therod I21.

Assuming that the driving shaft is rotating in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3), the fluid medium is drawn through the suction line i 60 and line 43 of the pump 2! to unseat the valve 41 for flow through the port 35 into the inlet chamber 3I. The fluid medium will then be pumped incidental to rotation of the gears 28 and 29 into the outlet chamber for discharge into the manifold chamber 34, building up a pressure therein which retains the valve 48 on its seat and opens the valve 46 so that the compressed fluid flows through the port 40 into the passageway 42 and through the passageway into the pipes 44 and I23, and to the open relief valve where the fluid escapes through the port I25.

In starting the transmission at low speed, the valve rod is moved to the left (Fig. 1) until the plunger 61 engages the groove 66. In this position the annular passageway I40 in the valve registers with the passageway I4I leading to the pressure chamber 90, then upon seating of the valve I24 the pressure fluid from the pump is discharged into the compensating chamber I29 to act against the piston in compressing the spring I33, so that the piston acts as a governor in maintaining substantial constant pressure of the fluid contained in the chamber which flows out through the port I35, channel I36 and into the passageway I31 from where it flows through the bore I38 of the valve to discharge through the port I39 into the passageway I40 and through the passageway to the ports I4I, through which the fluid medium'flows into the chamber 90 to act against the coupling member 93. Excessive pressure is prevented when the piston has moved sufliciently to uncover a vent port I6I through which the pressure is relieved. Leakage around the piston is discharged through a vent I62 (see Fig. 6)

Since the pressure medium flows into the amber faster than it can flow through the clearance between the coupling member and the diaphragm 80, the pressure acting on the chamber side of the coupling member will effect lateral shifting of the'shaft 54 toward the right to urge the coupling member in driving relation with its complementary driven member or diaphragm 80, and closing flow through the ports 98. Rotation of the coupling member 93 will then cause rotation of the rotor at low speed to drive the driven shaft through the gears I01 and I06 in a forward direction.

Should it be desired to reverse rotation of the driven shaft this may be accomplished by operating the slide bar I I 9 to move the gear I 08 out of engagement with the gear I01. During this move ment of the gear I08, the cam portion of the slide bar effects opening of the relief valve to release the pressure acting upon the coupling member 93 to relieve its driving engagement with the diaphragm 80. After the gear I08 has meshed with the reverse gear I I I, the cam I 2| will have passed the valve stem to allow the spring I23 to close the valve. Pressure will again build up in the chamber 90 to effect driving engagement of the coupling member 93 with the diaphragm coupling member 50. The rotor will then continue to move in the same direction to rotate the quill shaft 55 and the gear H6, but rotation of the gear I08 is reversed incidental to the idle gear II I so that the driven shaft is rotated in reverse.

Assuming that it is desirable to shift from low speed to intermediate speed instead of into low reverse, the valve rod is shifted to the right (Fig. 1), until the plunger engages in the groove 65. During shifting movement of the valve the annular passageway I41 in the valve registers with the ports I4I leading to the pressure chamber 90 so that the pressure in the chamber is bled through the ports I4I, annular passageway I41 and channels I43 into the passageway 549, from where the fluid flows through the ports I50 and I52 back into the sump of the casing 2. During bleeding of the pressure chamber 90, communication of pressure chamber 9I has been established with the pump through communication of the annular passageway I46 in the valve with the port I42 leading to the chamber 9! so that fluid is being discharged into the intermediate rotor chamber; however, since the pressure is being bled from the chamber 95, fluid being discharged into the chamber 9! flows through the ports 38 to act against the contact side of the coupling member 93 to effect its disengagement with the diaphragm 86, thereby positively establishing neutral condition; however, when the plunger 61 is engaged in the groove 65, the annular passageway I41 is moved out of registry with the ports I4I leading to the pressure chamber 96. The pressures are then equalized in the chambers 90 and 9| through the ports 98 and pump pressure is established to cause movement of the coupling member 94 into driving engagement with the diaphragm 8|. The gear I05 is then effective in rotating the quill shaft 84 to cause the coupling member 94 to drive the rotor at intermediate speed in a forward direction which drives the driven shaft at intermediate speed either in forward or reverse direction depending upon which of the gears III or ID! is engaged by the driven gear Hi8.

High speed drive is obtained by shifting the valve until the plunger 61 engages in the groove 64. During movement of the valve the ports I42 and MI will have registered with the annular passages M6 and I4! of the valve so that pressure in the chambers and 9| are bled through the channels I48 and through the ports I50 and IE2 into the casing. The annular passageway M8 will also move into registry with the port I43 to discharge fiuid into the rotor chamber 92, which pressure acts to help unseat the coupling member 94 to equalize the pressures on the respective sides of all the disks since the chambers 9G and 9! are being bled to the interior of the casing and the fluid admitted to the rotor chamber 92 is free to bleed through the ports 99 and through the chambers 9| and 92 into the casing. However, by the time the groove 64 has been engaged with the plunger the passageways i4! and H16 will have been moved out of registry with the ports Hi! and M2, closing off flow of pressure medium from the chambers 90 and 9| to allow the pressure to build up in the chamber 92 which affects lateral shifting of the coupling member into driving engagement with the diaphragm portion of the rotor section I6. Ihe rotor is then actuated at high speed to drive the driven shaft in either forward or reverse direction depending upon engagement of the driven gear I68 with the gears Hl or 101. It is thus obvious that the shift of speeds maybe accomplished in successive order, from low through intermediate to high, the mechanism operating so that the pressure medium which effects driving engagement of the coupling member for one speed simultaneously effects positive release of the preceding coupling member so that the valve may be shifted successively through the different speeds without materially interfering with flow of power from the driving to the driven members.

After shifting to high gear, neutral position may be attained by releasing the pressure through the valve I24 so that the pressure exerted in the rotor chamber 92 is insufficient to maintain driving engagement of the coupling member 95 with its complementary coupling 85. When this occurs pressure is also relieved from the chamber through the ports I06. During establishment of pressure in any one of the preceding chambers, pressure is relieved in the succeeding chambers through the valve chamber and ports E55 and l59 into the casing.

In case it should become necessary to effect operation of the driving shaft through the driven shaft as when towing a vehicle to start the motor, the pump 22 is effective in establishing pressure in the same manner as the pump 2|. Attentio-n is also directed to the fact that during operation of the driven member by the driving member, the pump 22 is effective in maintaining driving pressures on any one of the respective coupling units. The driving connection is also maintained through the pump 22 in utilizing the braking action of the prime mover and also to maintain pressure in the chamber I29 so that a braking device may be connected with the piston rod l3l to be actuated incidental to building up of the pressure in the compensating chamber. In case the prime mover should be operated in reverse the pumps 2| and 22 are still effective in establishing pressure, however the valves 46 and 41 will remain seated and the flow will be established through the valves 48 and 45, otherwise the operation of the speed coupler is the same as above described.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a simple speed intercoupler whereby any one of a plurality of speeds may be successively effected or any one of the speeds may be selected simply by operating the slide valve to render the desired coupling units efiective in providing a driving coupling between the driving and driven members.

What I claim and desire to secure Patent is:

l. A driving mechanism including driving and driven members, one of said members having passageways, means supporting said other member for movement to and from covering relation with the passageways, means for applying a fluid pressure medium against the movable member to effect driving contact with said member having the passageways, and means for releasing said fluid pressure and directing said fluid pressure through said passageways to disengage the movable member.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, driving and driven members, one of said members having perforations located in position to be covered by the other member, means supporting said other member for movement from and against the perforated member, means for applying a fluid pressure medium against the movable member to effect driving contact of said members, and means for controlling said fluid pressure medium and for directing said fluid pressure medium through said perforations to shift said movable member from driving contact with the perforated member.

3. In a driving mechanism, pairs of driving and driven members, one of said members in each pair having passageways for flow of fluid pressure medium and adapted to be covered by the other member of the pair, means supporting said other member of each pair for movement into driving relation with the member having said passageways, means for applying fluid pressure medium against the movable member of one pair, and means for selectively diverting the fluid pressure medium against the movable member of the other pair to equalize pressure acting against the first named movable member through said passageways in the other member of the first pair. 7 r

4'. In a driving mechanism, a rotary member having a fluid pressure chamber and having passageways, a rotary member mounted for independent rotation in said chamber and adapted to be moved into covering relation with said passageways, means for applying fluid medium under pressure against the independently rotatable member to effect driving engagement with the first named rotary member, and means for selectively releasing said pressure medium from the chamber and for directing said pressure medium through said passageways from the side opposite said independently rotatable member to effect equalization of the pressure on the respective sides of said independently rotatable member.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a shaft rotatably supported in the easing, a quill shaft mounted for rotation about the axis of the first named shaft, coupling members on said shafts, a housing for said coupling members rotatable about the axis of said shafts, complementary coupling members carried by the by Letters housing and having passageways adapted to be covered by the first named coupling members, and means for selectively applying a fluid pressure medium against the first named coupling members to effect driving relation with the complementary coupling members and for applying pressure medium through said passageways of a precedingly engaged coupling member.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a shaft rotatably supported in the casing, a quill shaft mounted for rotation about the axis of the first named shaft, coupling members on said shafts, a housing for said coupling members rotatable about the axis of said shafts, complementary coupling members carried by the housing and having passageways covered by the first named coupling members, means for selectively applying a fluid pressure medium against the first named coupling members to effect driving relation with the complementary coupling members including means for applying pressure medium through said passageways of a precedingly engaged coupling member, means for driving said shafts at differential speeds, and a power take-off connected With the housing.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotor including spaced perforated diaphragms forming spaced chambers for containing a fluid pressure medium, a coupling member movably supported in each chamber for movement to and from covering relation with the perforations in said diaphragms, means for rotating said coupling members at different speeds within said chambers, a pump for circulating a fluid medium under pressure to the respective chambers, and valve means controlling flow of said medium to the pressure chambers for selectively urging any one of the coupling members in driving relation with a corresponding diaphragm to actuate the rotor at the speed of the'selected coupling member.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotor including spaced perforated diaphragms forming spaced chambers for containing a fluid pressure medium, a coupling member movably supported in each chamber for movement to and from covering relation with the perforations in said diaphragms, means for rotating said coupling members at different speeds within said chambers, a pump for circulating a fluid medium pump.

under pressure to the respective chambers, means connecting the pump in driving relation with said coupling members, and valve means controlling flow of said medium to the pressure chambers for selectively urging any one of the coupling members in driving relation with a corresponding diaphragm to actuate the rotor at the speed of the selected coupling member.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotor including spaced perforated diaphragms' forming spaced chambers for containing a fluid pressure medium, a coupling member movably supported in, each chamber for movement to and from covering relation with the perforations in said diaphragms, means for rotating said coupling members at different speeds within said chambers, a pump for circulating a fluid medium under pressure to the respective chambers, means connecting the pump in driving relation with said coupling members, a power take-off connected with the rotor, a pump connected with the power take-off and having connection with said first named pump for supplying said fluid medium when the first named pump is ineffective, and valve means controlling flow of said medium to the pressure chambers for selectively urging any one of the coupling members in driving relation with a corresponding diaphragm to actuate the rotor at the speed of the selected coupling member.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotor including spaced perforated diaphragms forming spaced chambers for containing a fluid pressure medium, a coupling member movably supported in each chamber for movement to and from covering relation with the perforations in said diaphragms, means for rotating said coupling members at different speeds within said chambers, a pump for circulating" a fluid medium under pressure to the respective chambers, valve means controlling flow of said medium to the pressure chambers for selectively urging any one of the coupling members in driving relation with a corresponding diaphragm to actuate the rotor at the speed of the selected coupling member, and means for maintaining constant pressure on the discharge side of said EMMEI'I F. SARVER. 

